The MK Local Plan designates the area around Walton Grange for development, and a number of plans and development briefs have been prepared that will shape the developments. This article gives you an overview, with links to more information about each part. It will be updated as things change.
The phase 1 plans (see below) are now out for consultation, until 25th October, so have your say!
Overview
A planning brief defines the development opportunities and constraints and suggests a broad general shape that the development might follow. For larger developments, Outline plans and Reserved matters (the rest of the detail) then follow, while for smaller developments, we go straight to a detailed plan. Both the development brief and the plans are consulted on, so you have the chance to express your views. However, it’s important to understand that what the Council is allowed to insist upon, and sometimes even what they are allowed to propose, is limited by planning law.
The area around Walton Grange is divided into two: the area currently owned by MSD, the company opposite across Hulwell Gate, and the area currently owned by MKDP, the Council’s development arm.
The MKDP land
The MKDP area, known as Walton Manor, was the subject of a Development Brief consultation last year. If you want to see what was consulted on, then please click here, and search for the keywords Walton Manor. The brief was delayed for a variety of reasons, and extra technical information has led to a change. The new version is being prepared at present, and will be published soon. We will update this article when it comes out. We’re not expecting any plans until well into 2016.
The MSD Land
MSD also want to develop their existing land, in three phases.
Phase 0 covers the land immediately across Hulwell Drive in front of the flats on Walton Grange. The plan is to build a very small water treatment plant (basically relocating one they already have), together with a small visitors car park, and a row of landscaping by the road to screen it a little from the flats. You can see the information we put out on it here.
Phase 1 will include building a new small production plant (to replace an existing one) on the land further in beyond the treatment plant, with landscaping to screen it, and extensions to the car parks near the V10. They will also add an extra lane to the HGV access within the site, so that vehicles can queue there, and not on Hullwell Gate. See our leaflet for more details and search for plan 15/02293/FUL on the Council’s website here. The planning application is out for consultation until 25th October 2015, so please get your comments in, and let us know if you still have any questions. We have obtained mock-up views of the plant from outside the Abells Close flats and the Harley Drive flats.
Phase 2 will cover two more buildings within their site, and a new large car park near the H9 and access from the H9. That may reduce traffic on Hulwell Gate. They have not finalised the planning application yet, so there is nothing to see, but they will do so soon and we will update this article when they do. The leaflet describes a little more about the phase 2 intentions.